LAS VEGAS — It took Karen Darabedyan 15 minutes to introduce himself to the mixed martial arts world.
After three rounds of mostly toe-to-toe battle with former World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough, Darabedyan emerged victorious with a split-decision victory on Wednesday night as part of WEC 44 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
“I’m just really happy to get the ‘W’,” Darabedyan said. “I don’t know how to describe it, I’m just so happy.”
In all, it was a night in which MMA in Glendale put itself on the map, as Darabedyan (9-1), a Glendale High graduate who still resides in the Jewel City, and his training partner at the Main Event Boxing Club in Glendale, Manny Gamburyan, were both victorious.
Sitting next to his younger training partner during the post fight press conference, Gamburyan heaped immense praise and expectation on Darabedyan.
“Look at the newcomer,” Gamburyan said. “Like I said, he’s gonna be the champ, I guarantee it.”
In a three-round featherweight (145 pounds) co-main event bout that could very well have decided the next title contender in the division, Gamburyan (10-4) decisioned Leonard Garcia (13-5), 29-28 on two cards and 30-27 on a third. In the main event, Jose Aldo (16-1) defeated Mike Brown (22-5) for the featherweight title with a second technical knockout win, perhaps setting up Gamburyan for a future title shot.
“It’s up to the WEC,” Gamburyan said. “If they think I’m next for the title shot, I’m down for it, anytime, anywhere.”
Darabedyan’s lightweight (155) tilt had a surprisingly tense ending when the decision was read, as Darabedyan received scores of 30-27 and 29-28 from judges Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo, respectively, and McCullough (17-6) received a 30-27 score from Toni Weeks. The News-Press scored it 29-28 for Darabedyan, with the local fighter coming up short in a relatively even third round.
Nonetheless, Darabedyan was grinning ear to ear despite a marked face and a tough fight that saw him weather a steady stream of leg kicks, mixed with a few stiff body kicks and punches to the face that unveiled his solid chin.
